Justice – Refugee and Immigration Matters

Patricia ‘Trish’ Betts  is our Regional Advisor for Atlantic Canada.  She is a member of the United Church of Canada Refugee Advisory Group (UCC RAG).   The UCC RAG operates to help United Church congregations with the day-to-day work of refugee sponsorship and support.

My role as the Regional Advisor, Refugee Program is to liaise between the sponsor groups and the United Church of Canada (UCC), while supporting groups with the application process to sponsor refugee(s) either through PSR (private sponsorship), BVOR (blended visa-office referral), or JAS (government joint-assisted) applications, especially those applications that are submitted under the UCC SAH (sponsorship agreement holder).  My role is also to provide resources to applicants as they progress through the entire sponsorship period, including before the families arrive in Canada, while the families are in Canada, and after the sponsorship period ends.

Trish sends regular updates on educational opportunities, new sponsorship needs and opportunities, and stories from sponsoring groups.  If you would like to be on her email list, you can contact her at patricia.betts@icloud.com.

For information about work in this area contact your Regional Office

Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters Regional Council – info4rc14@united-church.ca
Bermuda-Nova Scotia Regional Council – info4rc15@united-church.ca
First Dawn Eastern Edge Regional Council  – info4rc16@united-church.ca